Leah Chan
@cleahchan.bsky.social
Director of Health Justice @GaBudget. All views are my own.
https://gbpi.org/georgias-state-and-local-public-health-system-supports-healthy-communities-and-a-strong-economy/
https://gbpi.org/georgias-state-and-local-public-health-system-supports-healthy-communities-and-a-strong-economy/
Reposted by Leah Chan
CMS is saying they can do this because this care is not "healthcare" and thus they aren't regulating practice of medicine... seems like a slippery slope? what stops them from next saying abortion isn't healthcare?
Under the proposed rule issued by the Trump Administration today, any Medicare- or Medicaid-participating hospital would be barred from providing gender-affirming care to *any child*, even if the care is not paid for by Medicare or Medicaid.
public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-23465.pdf
public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-23465.pdf
public-inspection.federalregister.gov
December 18, 2025 at 3:00 PM
CMS is saying they can do this because this care is not "healthcare" and thus they aren't regulating practice of medicine... seems like a slippery slope? what stops them from next saying abortion isn't healthcare?
Reposted by Leah Chan
Tracy, 57, from GA, received this notice showing her #ACA marketplace premium rising from $82 to $1,616/month if premium tax credit enhancements expire — nearly a $19k increase next year. For her, that means choosing between coverage and essentials.
December 9, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Tracy, 57, from GA, received this notice showing her #ACA marketplace premium rising from $82 to $1,616/month if premium tax credit enhancements expire — nearly a $19k increase next year. For her, that means choosing between coverage and essentials.
Reposted by Leah Chan
21 days stand between real people and devastating premium increases for the ACA marketplace coverage. People like Tracy are facing impossible choices. Congress still has time to pass a clean extension that would solve this problem.
Tracy, 57, from GA, received this notice showing her #ACA marketplace premium rising from $82 to $1,616/month if premium tax credit enhancements expire — nearly a $19k increase next year. For her, that means choosing between coverage and essentials.
December 10, 2025 at 7:53 PM
21 days stand between real people and devastating premium increases for the ACA marketplace coverage. People like Tracy are facing impossible choices. Congress still has time to pass a clean extension that would solve this problem.
Reposted by Leah Chan
We actually just wrote a blog about this. Cash subsidies sound simple — but the impact is severe.
Younger, healthier people would flock to low-quality “junk” plans or drop coverage altogether.
Who’s left? Older & sicker people, skyrocketing premiums, and a real threat to the ACA.
Read more👇
Younger, healthier people would flock to low-quality “junk” plans or drop coverage altogether.
Who’s left? Older & sicker people, skyrocketing premiums, and a real threat to the ACA.
Read more👇
December 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
We actually just wrote a blog about this. Cash subsidies sound simple — but the impact is severe.
Younger, healthier people would flock to low-quality “junk” plans or drop coverage altogether.
Who’s left? Older & sicker people, skyrocketing premiums, and a real threat to the ACA.
Read more👇
Younger, healthier people would flock to low-quality “junk” plans or drop coverage altogether.
Who’s left? Older & sicker people, skyrocketing premiums, and a real threat to the ACA.
Read more👇
Reposted by Leah Chan
Welcome to Albany, Georgia, where one hospital dominates the political and economic landscape.
The story of Phoebe Putney Memorial is the story of American health care.
By @gingerthompson.bsky.social, with research by Doris Burke
The story of Phoebe Putney Memorial is the story of American health care.
By @gingerthompson.bsky.social, with research by Doris Burke
Sick in a Hospital Town: As Phoebe Memorial Grew, the Health of Albany, Georgia, Declined
The five-part series, “Sick in a Hospital Town,” pursues one question: Why are people in Albany so sick when its most powerful institution is a hospital?
projects.propublica.org
December 8, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Welcome to Albany, Georgia, where one hospital dominates the political and economic landscape.
The story of Phoebe Putney Memorial is the story of American health care.
By @gingerthompson.bsky.social, with research by Doris Burke
The story of Phoebe Putney Memorial is the story of American health care.
By @gingerthompson.bsky.social, with research by Doris Burke
Reposted by Leah Chan
The decision by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to downgrade its recommendations to protect infants from hepatitis B is a dangerous move that will harm children.
Click here to read AAP's full statement: bit.ly/3Y9ZQJT
Click here to read AAP's full statement: bit.ly/3Y9ZQJT
December 5, 2025 at 4:15 PM
The decision by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to downgrade its recommendations to protect infants from hepatitis B is a dangerous move that will harm children.
Click here to read AAP's full statement: bit.ly/3Y9ZQJT
Click here to read AAP's full statement: bit.ly/3Y9ZQJT
Reposted by Leah Chan
Grim new analysis from KFF: The administration's move to re-adopt the public charge rule could have a chilling effect that leads to several million people dropping Medicaid coverage — including tens of thousands of citizen children
www.kff.org/medicaid/pot...
www.kff.org/medicaid/pot...
December 3, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Grim new analysis from KFF: The administration's move to re-adopt the public charge rule could have a chilling effect that leads to several million people dropping Medicaid coverage — including tens of thousands of citizen children
www.kff.org/medicaid/pot...
www.kff.org/medicaid/pot...
Reposted by Leah Chan
On Dec. 7, we’re taking you to Albany, Georgia, and telling a story as we never have before.
In a new 5-part series, ProPublica’s @gingerthompson.bsky.social pursues one question: “Why are people in Albany so sick when its most powerful institution is a hospital?”
In a new 5-part series, ProPublica’s @gingerthompson.bsky.social pursues one question: “Why are people in Albany so sick when its most powerful institution is a hospital?”
December 2, 2025 at 2:00 PM
On Dec. 7, we’re taking you to Albany, Georgia, and telling a story as we never have before.
In a new 5-part series, ProPublica’s @gingerthompson.bsky.social pursues one question: “Why are people in Albany so sick when its most powerful institution is a hospital?”
In a new 5-part series, ProPublica’s @gingerthompson.bsky.social pursues one question: “Why are people in Albany so sick when its most powerful institution is a hospital?”
Reposted by Leah Chan
Today is World AIDS Day, a day to honor the lives of those affected by HIV. This year we're urging people to honor World AIDS Day by telling Congress to pass a funding bill which ensures access to critical and affordable HIV care. TAKE ACTION: bit.ly/GE_WAD
December 1, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Today is World AIDS Day, a day to honor the lives of those affected by HIV. This year we're urging people to honor World AIDS Day by telling Congress to pass a funding bill which ensures access to critical and affordable HIV care. TAKE ACTION: bit.ly/GE_WAD
Reposted by Leah Chan
Reports that the White House is working on a proposal to extend premium tax credit enhancements shows the Administration is acknowledging the urgent need to address premium spikes for millions of marketplace enrollees. But big questions remain.🧵
November 24, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Reports that the White House is working on a proposal to extend premium tax credit enhancements shows the Administration is acknowledging the urgent need to address premium spikes for millions of marketplace enrollees. But big questions remain.🧵
Reposted by Leah Chan
People have to sign up for ACA marketplace coverage by December 15 to have health insurance January 1. Even if Congress passed an extension with tweaks to the premium tax credits, computer systems could not be reprogrammed immediately.
November 24, 2025 at 6:45 PM
People have to sign up for ACA marketplace coverage by December 15 to have health insurance January 1. Even if Congress passed an extension with tweaks to the premium tax credits, computer systems could not be reprogrammed immediately.
Reposted by Leah Chan
Losing $5.4 billion in federal supplemental payments for providers amounts to unsustainable pressure for our healthcare system and leaves the state to pick up the tab: bit.ly/4pljtKE
November 20, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Losing $5.4 billion in federal supplemental payments for providers amounts to unsustainable pressure for our healthcare system and leaves the state to pick up the tab: bit.ly/4pljtKE
Reposted by Leah Chan
An important pragmatic point as Trump, Dr. Oz, and others claim to want to reform the subsidy scheme for 2026: It's too late for that.
Insurers modeled premiums with and without enhanced subsidies; they *didn't* estimate rates accounting for some quarter-baked scheme to issue some subsidy as cash.
Insurers modeled premiums with and without enhanced subsidies; they *didn't* estimate rates accounting for some quarter-baked scheme to issue some subsidy as cash.
Congress’ Obamacare subsidy vote could set off state scramble
The 20 state Affordable Care Act exchanges are prepared for a straightforward extension, but that appears doubtful.
www.politico.com
November 17, 2025 at 3:11 PM
An important pragmatic point as Trump, Dr. Oz, and others claim to want to reform the subsidy scheme for 2026: It's too late for that.
Insurers modeled premiums with and without enhanced subsidies; they *didn't* estimate rates accounting for some quarter-baked scheme to issue some subsidy as cash.
Insurers modeled premiums with and without enhanced subsidies; they *didn't* estimate rates accounting for some quarter-baked scheme to issue some subsidy as cash.
Reposted by Leah Chan
welcome to bluesky. if the word "mapquest" means anything to you and/or you used it as a verb, you're in the right place
November 11, 2025 at 1:11 AM
welcome to bluesky. if the word "mapquest" means anything to you and/or you used it as a verb, you're in the right place
Reposted by Leah Chan
In all the years I have worked in health policy GOP/conservative proposals always boil down to the same ideas: block grant/cap #Medicaid, Medicare premium support, unregulated individual health insurance markets and tax-favored accounts like Health Savings Accounts. So we’re back to HSAs this week.
November 11, 2025 at 1:07 PM
In all the years I have worked in health policy GOP/conservative proposals always boil down to the same ideas: block grant/cap #Medicaid, Medicare premium support, unregulated individual health insurance markets and tax-favored accounts like Health Savings Accounts. So we’re back to HSAs this week.
Reposted by Leah Chan
The Medicaid Program That Saved Money, Turned People’s Health Around — and Got Killed - POLITICO www.politico.com/news/magazin...
The Medicaid Program That Saved Money, Turned People’s Health Around — and Got Killed
The end of the Healthy Opportunities Pilot in North Carolina is a story of how MAHA might actually be realized — or not — at the state level.
www.politico.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:37 PM
The Medicaid Program That Saved Money, Turned People’s Health Around — and Got Killed - POLITICO www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Reposted by Leah Chan
#OpenEnrollment for 2026 marketplace plans started Nov 1 in most states. B/c Congressional Rs haven’t extended PTC enhancements, ppl are seeing higher costs as they review their options. If you’re in need of marketplace coverage, here are some key dates to keep in mind during this uncertain time:
November 6, 2025 at 7:00 PM
#OpenEnrollment for 2026 marketplace plans started Nov 1 in most states. B/c Congressional Rs haven’t extended PTC enhancements, ppl are seeing higher costs as they review their options. If you’re in need of marketplace coverage, here are some key dates to keep in mind during this uncertain time:
Reposted by Leah Chan
How concerned are people about rising health insurance premiums? With premium tax credit enhancements about to expire and ACA marketplace open enrollment underway, search volumes for terms like “health premium increase” are (almost) off the charts.
November 4, 2025 at 2:25 PM
How concerned are people about rising health insurance premiums? With premium tax credit enhancements about to expire and ACA marketplace open enrollment underway, search volumes for terms like “health premium increase” are (almost) off the charts.
Reposted by Leah Chan
There are two different KFF numbers about the ACA out there. Both are accurate, but mean different things.
114%: The average increase in out-of-pocket premiums if enhanced tax credits expire.
26%: The average increase in what insurers are charging for benchmark ACA plans.
114%: The average increase in out-of-pocket premiums if enhanced tax credits expire.
26%: The average increase in what insurers are charging for benchmark ACA plans.
October 29, 2025 at 8:01 PM
There are two different KFF numbers about the ACA out there. Both are accurate, but mean different things.
114%: The average increase in out-of-pocket premiums if enhanced tax credits expire.
26%: The average increase in what insurers are charging for benchmark ACA plans.
114%: The average increase in out-of-pocket premiums if enhanced tax credits expire.
26%: The average increase in what insurers are charging for benchmark ACA plans.
Reposted by Leah Chan
This is good news.
"The New England Journal of Medicine and the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy will begin publishing “public health alerts” in the coming month, CIDRAP Director Michael Osterholm announced at the IDWeek conference on Sunday."
www.statnews.com/2025/10/21/c...
"The New England Journal of Medicine and the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy will begin publishing “public health alerts” in the coming month, CIDRAP Director Michael Osterholm announced at the IDWeek conference on Sunday."
www.statnews.com/2025/10/21/c...
NEJM and public health group are launching rival to CDC’s MMWR publication
Two institutions are coming together to create an alternative to the CDC’s vaunted Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
www.statnews.com
October 22, 2025 at 6:04 AM
This is good news.
"The New England Journal of Medicine and the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy will begin publishing “public health alerts” in the coming month, CIDRAP Director Michael Osterholm announced at the IDWeek conference on Sunday."
www.statnews.com/2025/10/21/c...
"The New England Journal of Medicine and the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy will begin publishing “public health alerts” in the coming month, CIDRAP Director Michael Osterholm announced at the IDWeek conference on Sunday."
www.statnews.com/2025/10/21/c...
Reposted by Leah Chan
When is the point of no return for extending ACA tax credits?
They expire 12/31, so that’s a drop dead date.
Open enrollment starts November 1. If they’re not extended by then, enrollees may start dropping out. Even if open enrollment is extended, people could be hard to reach.
They expire 12/31, so that’s a drop dead date.
Open enrollment starts November 1. If they’re not extended by then, enrollees may start dropping out. Even if open enrollment is extended, people could be hard to reach.
October 20, 2025 at 5:33 PM
When is the point of no return for extending ACA tax credits?
They expire 12/31, so that’s a drop dead date.
Open enrollment starts November 1. If they’re not extended by then, enrollees may start dropping out. Even if open enrollment is extended, people could be hard to reach.
They expire 12/31, so that’s a drop dead date.
Open enrollment starts November 1. If they’re not extended by then, enrollees may start dropping out. Even if open enrollment is extended, people could be hard to reach.
Reposted by Leah Chan
At @nationalacademies.org annual meeting. An award recipient (92 years old, born in Slovakia) just reminded us, in her acceptance speech,
“Science always survives - it even made it through Stalin.
Don’t let your curiosity be diminished.”
🌼🧪📈🩺
“Science always survives - it even made it through Stalin.
Don’t let your curiosity be diminished.”
🌼🧪📈🩺
October 19, 2025 at 3:46 PM
At @nationalacademies.org annual meeting. An award recipient (92 years old, born in Slovakia) just reminded us, in her acceptance speech,
“Science always survives - it even made it through Stalin.
Don’t let your curiosity be diminished.”
🌼🧪📈🩺
“Science always survives - it even made it through Stalin.
Don’t let your curiosity be diminished.”
🌼🧪📈🩺
Reposted by Leah Chan
You can also see how costs could rise in your area using this calculator: calculator.americanscovered.org
Then, contact your Member of Congress and encourage them to keep healthcare affordable for Georgia families: secure.everyaction.com/UMfZvzKL9UC3...
#CareNotCuts
Then, contact your Member of Congress and encourage them to keep healthcare affordable for Georgia families: secure.everyaction.com/UMfZvzKL9UC3...
#CareNotCuts
October 16, 2025 at 4:59 PM
You can also see how costs could rise in your area using this calculator: calculator.americanscovered.org
Then, contact your Member of Congress and encourage them to keep healthcare affordable for Georgia families: secure.everyaction.com/UMfZvzKL9UC3...
#CareNotCuts
Then, contact your Member of Congress and encourage them to keep healthcare affordable for Georgia families: secure.everyaction.com/UMfZvzKL9UC3...
#CareNotCuts
Reposted by Leah Chan
If Congress does not act now to renew Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, it's estimated the cost of insurance premiums in GA could increase by as much as 75% during the open enrollment period.
READ this op-ed from our executive director, Jeff Graham, for more: roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/10/15/h...
READ this op-ed from our executive director, Jeff Graham, for more: roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/10/15/h...
Access to care crucial for Georgia's most vulnerable
Opinion: Extending tax credits is crucial for healthcare access, especially for LGBTQ+ communities and people living with HIV/AIDS.
roughdraftatlanta.com
October 16, 2025 at 4:59 PM
If Congress does not act now to renew Enhanced Premium Tax Credits, it's estimated the cost of insurance premiums in GA could increase by as much as 75% during the open enrollment period.
READ this op-ed from our executive director, Jeff Graham, for more: roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/10/15/h...
READ this op-ed from our executive director, Jeff Graham, for more: roughdraftatlanta.com/2025/10/15/h...
Reposted by Leah Chan
Senators are demanding answers from Deloitte and other companies about errors in eligibility systems for Medicaid, following a KFF Health News investigation exposing problems that resulted in people losing health benefits.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
Senators Press Deloitte, Other Contractors on Errors in Medicaid Eligibility Systems - KFF Health News
As contractors position themselves to cash in on a gush of new business managing Medicaid work requirements, a cadre of senators has launched an inquiry into the companies paid billions to build eligi...
kffhealthnews.org
October 10, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Senators are demanding answers from Deloitte and other companies about errors in eligibility systems for Medicaid, following a KFF Health News investigation exposing problems that resulted in people losing health benefits.
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...
kffhealthnews.org/news/article...